'Just' 493 kilowatts powering the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

THIS week I am featuring one of the latest Ferrari's to come out of the factory in Maranello.

I present you to the 2013 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. In the photo below, you can see the massive 6.3-litre V12 engine sitting up front.

This is the same engine that was first used in the Ferrari Enzo, and then again in the 599 GTB/GTO.

Now though, instead of producing "just" 493 kilowatts (661 horsepower), it is now upgraded to produce a whopping 544 kilowatts (730 horsepower) at 8250rpm and 690 Newton metres of torque (509 pound-feet of torque) at 6000rpm.

Jesse See.

Connected to this astonishingly powerful engine is the seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission that is used in the Ferrari 458 range, the Ferrari California and also the Ferrari FF. This transmission is able to shift within 60 milliseconds, making it one of the fastest shifting road cars ever made.

This power goes straight to the rear wheels through an electric rear differential, and the F12 Berlinetta also has a kerb weight of 1630 kilograms (3595.5 pounds).

All of these specifications combined together allows this Ferrari to launch from 0-100 kilometres per hour (0-62 miles per hour) in just 3.1 seconds, and it will keep accelerating until it reaches its top speed of over 340 kilometres per hour (211 miles per hour).

The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta was first launched at the Geneva Motor Show back in March last year to replace the outdated 599 GTB. Usually when manufacturers make a successor to a car, they usually increase the horsepower by 20, maybe 30 horses.

This isn't the case in the F12 Berlinetta, as it has 119 more horsepower than the 599 GTB. It is also smaller and lighter, which makes it much more nimble on the road.

To me, this is one of the prettiest Ferrari's ever made, but it's not just all aesthetics.

The little sills in the corner of the front grill open up at high speeds to cool the brakes, and the gap that is just in front of the Scuderia Ferrari shields allows air from the bonnet to run down the side of the car, increasing downforce on the rear.

Some other features that this particular F12 Berlinetta is equipped with includes 20-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in performance tyres, carbon fibre hub caps, rain sensing wipers, four-wheel ABS as well as traction and stability control, dusk-sensing Xenon headlights, electronic brake force distribution, a leather interior with front sport seats, carbon fibre steering wheel inserts, rpm LEDs on the top of the steering wheel, satellite navigation and much more.

You can currently buy this exact 2013 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta from Ferrari Brisbane for $812,000.

Jesse See is a teenage car enthusiast. His blogs and website can be found atwww.jessesee.com